Fuel saving apparatus and spark plug therefor

Abstract

A fuel saving apparatus for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders each having a spark plug therein. The apparatus comprises a valve means for stopping fuel flow to predetermined cylinders and means for venting each of these cylinders to atmosphere through the spark plugs therein. The venting means comprises a spark plug having a hollow shell releasably engaged in the cylinder and including a casing therein which is slidably movable relative to the shell. An air discharge passageway is provided between the casing and the shell, and a valve on the casing closes the inner end of the shell. Suitable actuating means are provided for moving the casing to an operative position where the valve opens the inner end of the shell thus venting the cylinder through the air discharge passageway and an outlet port in the shell communicating with atmosphere. Control means are provided for cutting the predetermined cylinders out of firing operation when less than full load conditions are imposed on the engine by operating the venting and valve means.

I claim: 
     
       1. A fuel saving apparatus for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders each provided with a piston and a spark plug, comprising: means for selectively preventing fuel flow to predetermined ones of said cylinders when in an operative position;   venting means having an operative position for venting each of said predetermined cylinders to atmosphere through said corresponding spark plugs therein; and   control means for selectively cutting said predetermined cylinders out of firing operation by conjointly operating said means for preventing fuel flow and operating said venting means to said operative positions when less than full load conditions are imposed on said engine.   
     
     
       2. A fuel saving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said venting means comprises at least one selectively operable air discharge passageway in each of said spark plugs in said predetermined cylinders, said one passageway communicating at one end thereof with atmosphere and with said cylinder at the other end thereof when said venting means is in said operative position. 
     
     
       3. A fuel saving apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each of said spark plugs in said predetermined cylinders comprises a hollow shell having inner and outer ends, said shell having said inner end in communication with said cylinder and extending outwardly therefrom; an actuator located inside said shell, said one passageway communicating at said one end thereof with at least one outlet port in said shell connected to atmosphere and at said other end thereof with said inner end of said shell; and said actuator having a valve for closing said inner end of said shell, said actuator being supported for motion relative to said shell between a first position where said valve closes said inner end of said shell and said operative position where said valve opens said inner end of said shell thereby venting said cylinder through said one passageway and one outlet port. 
     
     
       4. A fuel saving apparatus according to claim 3, further including means for biasing said actuator to said first position, and means for moving said actuator to said operative position against the force of said biasing means. 
     
     
       5. A fuel saving apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said moving means comprises a rod pivotally mounted on said engine, at least one eccentrically mounted roller fixed on said rod and bearing against a ring fixed on said actuator, and means for rotating said rod in response to actuation of said control means to cause said roller to move said ring, and thereby said actuator, to said operative position. 
     
     
       6. A fuel saving apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said biasing means comprises a spring disposed between said ring and said outer end of said shell. 
     
     
       7. A fuel saving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for preventing fuel flow comprises a plurality of slideable valve plates each having an opening therein normally registering with a fuel intake passageway connecting to one of said predetermined cylinders, and said valve plates in said operative position having said openings disposed in a non-registering condition with said fuel intake passageways. 
     
     
       8. A fuel saving apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each of said slideable valve plates is movably installed in a gasket placed in each of said fuel intake passageways. 
     
     
       9. A fuel saving apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said cylinders are each provided with an intake valve for controlling the entry of fuel into said cylinders under the control of a camshaft in said engine, the operation of said intake valves being independent of the operation of said slideable valve plates and said control means. 
     
     
       10. Venting means for a cylinder of an internal combustion engine including a combustion chamber defined by at least one wall, an aperture in said wall, and an ignition means disposed within said aperture, comprising: a venting valve means disposed in said aperture and having a normally closed position;   means for opening said venting valve means;   said ignition means and said venting valve means in its said normally closed position preventing the passage of gaseous material from said cylinder through said aperture during engine operation,   means for supplying fuel to said combustion chamber, and   means for shutting off said fuel supply when said means for opening said venting valve means is operated to cause opening of said venting valve means.